Bible Truth for Today & Christian Counseling for the Soul

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Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. Nahum 3:4-5

Is God against you? “You should see my problems right now…” you may exclaim, “it seems He is against me!” Maybe, but maybe not.

Is God against the Unites States? Perhaps a better question is – is the United States against God? It appears that we are against God more and more each day.

When Abraham Lincoln was asked, “Which side do you think the Lord is on, the North or the South?” He gave this thoughtful reply, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My great concern is to be on God’s side. For God is always right!”

Notice in the verse above the words “Because” and “Behold.” Because of the sin of Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire, the Lord was against them. Generally speaking, the Lord is for an individual and for a nation. He gives them a chance to know Him and to serve Him with their lives. God loves people and Jesus gave His life for people!

The reason God would go against someone or a against a nation is because the person or nation has been against the Lord in their decisions, mindset, and actions. Consider this: Nineveh had received the Word of God as preached by the prophet Jonah 100 years before Nahum wrote his short book. When Jonah preached “40 more days the Lord will overthrow” -the people repented. They turned from their sin. The king, the rich, the poor, everyone in Nineveh turned from violence, idolatry, adultery, witchcraft, and evil. They turned to God and He forgave them and accepted them.

Fast forward to Nahum’s day. Instead of living lives of repentance, they had returned to their sin. It is because of their sin, the Lord said He was now against them. God declares His intention to judge, punish, and humble this proud arrogant people. Notice the vivid language in verse 5 as to how the Lord was going to humiliate them.

If it seems that God is against you, be sure to check for any unconfessed sin in your life. He does chasten and correct those He loves. Confess the sin. Repent and turn from it. The Lord will forgive and restore any person or nation who turn back to Him. Anytime a person feels God is against them it is rooted in the fact their their personal choices have been going against Bible principles.

Any hostility starts in humanity. Romans 8:7 teaches, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Enmity means “opposition, a reason for hostility.” Our sin, sin nature, and carnal mind directs us away from the Lord.

Let’s consider this on a national scale now. Notice what Nahum 3:1 says, “Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not…” Nineveh was bloody. They were full of violence. The USA is not far behind the Assyrians of ancient history. We are bloody and violent too. Our entertainment is full of violence. It is difficult to find a video game that is not violent. Our streets, schools, and screens of any size has lots of violence in them. Any casual viewing of the evening news reveals this.

Even many in “health care” are violent. If you could talk just one the the millions of babies murdered each year, he/she would say – “yes abortion is violent.”

According the worldometer.info are the following staggering statistics:

“According to WHO, every year in the world there are an estimated 40-50 million abortions. This corresponds to approximately 125,000 abortions per day.”

“In the USA, where nearly half of pregnancies are unintended and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion [1] , there are over 3,000 abortions per day. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies in the USA (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. [2]”

The USA is violent to the most helpless among us. Not much compassion or love to say the least. How could God judge Nineveh and not judge the USA? They Assyrians were given much when Jonah preached and they repented, and the Lord held them accountable 100 years later.

Jesus said in Luke 12:48 “…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” The USA had been given much. We have been blessed, but it is very clear we have abandoned God. We will give an account to God. It is possible that part of God’s judgment on a nation is when we kill our own young…

What if God is giving us one more chance? I believe that could be the case. The Ninevites were destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians and the Lord used these foreign nations to punish them “because” of their sin. They chose not to repent of sin but to run full speed into their sin. In recent weeks, many states are running straight into more easy killings of the unborn in abortion.

God would rather save you than to see you remain condemned in your sin. Romans 5:8 teaches one of the most amazing things: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In spite of your sin and my sin, God loves you and loves me so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us.

While God does judge sin, He also makes a way to escape the punishment for our sin. Rescue is found in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust Jesus today. He shed His blood, died in your place, and rose again the third day!

Christian, repent of sin, while you can. God’s judgement could come soon. Make sure that you are yielding your life the Lord each day.

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:2-3

Years ago, I learned the “art” of juggling…. Well a little. I was never that good at it. I could juggle 3 hackee sack balls ok – in the right conditions. I had to stand still, look up, and watch out for throwing the ball in the direction of other people! Needless to say, I can’t juggle. The same can be said when we try to live life without the Lord. There are so many “balancing” issues we face and without he priorities of the Lord – we will “Drop the ball.”

Life can be a “juggling act!” There is so much to do, and seemingly so little time to do it in. Many people are so consumed with things, stuff, and opportunities of life that life itself gets out of balance and they begin to “drop the ball.” This post is for you. Be challenged and encouraged to streamline the juggling motions of life.

Like Proverbs 16:2-3 says, “The ways of a man are clean in his own eyes.” Our choices, decisions, and priorities can all be justified – humanly speaking. You can give a “good reason” for why you do what you do or don’t do what you don’t do. Self-justification is a terribly effective habit of the natural man.

At the same time, verse 3 tells us that when we commit our works to God, our thoughts will be established. That is, when we are making decisions based on a “God Priority”, then our decisions will be blessed. When God blesses our decisions, life is less complicated, choices are easier to make, and perspective of what is truly important comes into a clearer view.

How can I start to “juggle” life in proper balance? Here are some Scripturally simplified ideas:

Be still, and know that I am God: Psalm 46:10a

Stop everything at specific moments of each day and each week.

Daily Bible reading and prayer, should be consistent in life.

Church attendance should be a regular part of your week. Plan around church, don’t plan church around the other stuff.

Life becomes too hectic when we do not take time to be still and know that God is God.

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. Proverbs11:28

Seeking what is right is better than seeking more money. We do not work to get money anyway – we work to glorify the Lord and to gain the ability to “give to him that needed.” Ephesians 5:28

When we are working for money we look sight of the greater picture that everything we do should be under the auspices of “the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Ask the Lord to help you control your work schedule instead of allowing your work schedule to control you. This is something I learned from my parents as a teenager when they had me mowing lawns or clearing snow, remodeling buildings, instead of flipping burgers or checking people out at a checkout line.

The riches will not last – but right choices last a lifetime and for all eternity!

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. Proverbs 10:8

“Know it all’s” talk a lot and do not listen well for how to improve their life. They drop the ball because they are attempting things they want to do, or think they can do, but have not consulted the Lord or learned people.

Have you noticed those struggling the most in the “juggling act of life” are generally the ones who are trying to live life on their own. God is not a priority, His input is not welcome. Other people’s encouragement and admonition is rejected. Some people drop the ball and do not even notice!

The wise in heart receives the Bible to make balanced changes in his life.

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. Proverbs 11:5

Making right choices can become a lifestyle pattern.

Notice how the mature Christian will allow what is right to direct his way. When he makes a right choice now – it makes it easier for him to make a right choice tomorrow. Before long a singular good choice will become a whole string of good choices that then becomes a pattern for living.

The more consistent a person is with right choices, the better he will be at juggling life!

Be encouraged to trust your path to the Lord. Avoid juggling life on your own apart from the Lord. Don’t drop the ball! Incorporate Godly reasoning in every decision you make.

‘One man in a church was boasting to his friend, “I could give $1,000.00 towards the building and not even feel it.”

His friend replied, “Then give two or three thousand and feel it!”’

Everyone likes gifts. Receiving gifts is a blessing but it even more blessed to be able and to actually give a gift to others. Acts 20:35 tells us to: “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

One anonymous person aptly stated: “What you are is God’s gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God.” Good thought. We should give our lives back to the Lord in service.

Let us continue our consideration of the “Gift of God.” There are 3 more passages with this insightful phrase. Each of these have more to do with using the gift that God has given to us – to serve and minister to other people.

God’s Gifts Cannot Be Bought: Acts 8:20 instructs, “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.”

Peter is in Jerusalem when the news from Samaria concerning the preaching of Philip and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is spoken about. Phillip is casting out demons, healing people, and preaching the Gospel – all in the power of God. Peter and John are sent by the Apostles in Jerusalem to confirm the testimony they were told, and together these two men walk to Samaria.

When Peter arrives, a man named Simon is determined to talk with Peter. Simon formerly had been a sorcerer, but had renounced demonic powers and had turned to Jesus with faith in the Gospel.

By the Way: There is much temptation for Christian families to be entertained by evil books and TV. Harry Potter, and many similar books and movies that portray sorcerers and wizards as the hero should be avoid, discarded, and not allowed to influence our kids. Demonism is real and is growing in popularity today. It is now mainstream and even popular. What kid would not like to have supernatural powers? Satanic activity is real and we must guard our homes in active ways lest our kids be led astray.

Well, this man Simon, had demonic power before, and now that he was a believer in Jesus he realized that the prestige and power he once had was gone. I do not believe he was regretting turning to Jesus. He was however coveting what he saw in Peter.

Part of Peters purpose for this journey was to see how the Holy Spirit of God was working in Samaria. When Peter laid hands on these people who had previously believed in Jesus for salvation – the Holy Spirit came upon them. This study could diverge into the doctrine of the Pneumatology (Holy Spirit) but we will not now. These saved people had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

Simon sees this tremendous moving of the Holy Spirit and he wanted the power to give the Holy Spirit to other people too! He was still thinking in occultist terms. Peter directly tells him that the Holy Spirit cannot be bought.

The Spirit of God is a gift that God gives to Christians when they are born of the Spirit, or born again. The Gift of God cannot be bought. While Simon wanted to serve others by giving them the Spirit, that is not the way it works. The Holy Spirit of God worked through Phillip and Peter and He can also work through you. Our main problem is that we tend to think in humanistic terms. We tend to try to live the Christian life and conduct the work of the ministry in the flesh or with our intellect.

Thank God for His Holy Spirit who will lead, guide, direct, and empower you to fulfill the will of God.

God’s Gift Should Be Cherished: 1 Corinthians 7:7 teaches, “For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.”

Most of us are not like the man in the following story: “Probably the only man in history who never saw a woman was Mihailo Tolotos, a monk who died in 1938 at the age of 82 in one of the monasteries atop Mount Athos, Greece. As his mother passed away when he was born, Mihailo was taken to Athos the next day and never once, throughout his life, left this monastic colony which has excluded all females, animals as well as humans, for more than 900 years.” (Signs of the Times)

The context of 1 Corinthians 7 is marriage and family. Paul is teaching the Corinthian believers who lived in a sex-crazed, and immoral society how they should remain celibate if unmarried and how to remain pure through marriage.

While Peter was married, had a family, and a mother in law, Paul was never married. Paul, the iconic missionary, had tremendous freedom to travel and be away from home for years at a time because he was not married.

As 1 Corinthians 7 develops we find that the gift of God that Paul is speaking of concerning personal marriage relationships differs from person to person. Consider the following:

If a specific man is supposed to be married and it is God’s will that he has a family – then the wife God gives to him is a special gift from God. In this case – marriage is a gift of God.

If a particular man is not to be married and it is God’s will that the man remain single – then singleness is a gift of God.

If a man marries and it is not God’s will, or he marries a person that the Lord says not to marry (according to clear Bible teaching) then becoming a husband would become a nightmare instead of a blessing.

By the Way: Living together before marriage is like unwrapping a gift before it has been given to you. There are many spiritual and psychological reasons this is a harmful practice. Perhaps that could be a post on another day. Until you are married – the gifts included in the broader gift of marriage (sex, kids, family, accountability, leadership, and union) are not yours – yet. Wait until the “I Do.” To unwrap your marriage gift.

Many people are living a nightmare in relationships because they marry outside the will of God, the Word of God, or do not accept the specific gift of God – the gift of marriage or the gift of singleness. Whichever of these two gifts God gives to you – cherish it. Both gifts are temporary in nature. Embrace whichever one God has for you at this moment.

God’s Gift Should Be Remembered. 2 Timothy 1:6 encourages, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”

With each gift we receive of the Lord, we should be deliberate to remember, and be thankful for those gifts. Should we not consistently remind ourselves of all that God has given, we will forget. Human nature is good at tucking blessings away into forgetfulness, and merely thinking on problems or things we do not have.

May God help us to frame our minds with consistent thinking of God’s gifts as Ephesians 1:3 tells us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

In 2 Timothy 1, Paul is reminding young pastor Timothy about how the Holy Spirit of God had called, equipped, and empowered Tim for the task of Christian service. Timothy was a preacher, a pastor. Does The Holy Spirit do the same in our lives? The answer is yes.

Even if you are not “paid time” in the ministry, we are all to be “full-time” in the ministry. Remember the gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 8? The Holy Spirit has gifted each believer with a specific “Spiritual Gifts.” Do you know what your Spiritual Gift is? There are 6 Spiritual Gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8. We have a “Spiritual Gifts” test at our church office if you want to stop on sometimes to discover your specific gift. Utilizing your gift will help you be more effective in Christian service.

When God’s people all prioritize faithful service much good is accomplished. Our family enjoys flying kits on warm breezy days. When a kite is flown into the air, the question could be asked: “Who Flew the Kite?”

“‘I did,” said the wind!

“I did,” said the paper!

“I did,” said the string!

“I did,” said the boy! But in reality they ALL flew the kite! If the wind had lulled, if the paper had torn, if the sticks had broken, if the tail had caught in the tree, or the boy had fallen, then the kite would have come down! EACH HAD A PART TO PLAY!

God has placed you in a strategic role! You are important to your church ministry. Just use your gift to the Glory of God and leave the results to Him.” (Communicating Biblical Truths)

Be stirred up, excited, and focused on the good work that the Holy Spirit of God can do in your life. There is much to complain about, and many problems that we could be pre-occupied with, but by God’s grace, you can remained stirred up and focused on the specific ministry and service God has for you.